Little Egg Harbor Police Explorers Excel

Police Explorers Post 321, Little Egg Harbor placed in almost every category they entered during the Jersey Shore Police Explorers Competition hosted by Stockton University on June 5.

“This is the third year we have participated and this was the largest event so far,” said Little Egg Harbor Police Sgt. Sean Crotty. “There were 15 posts with over 100 Explorers, from Atlantic City to Newark, and the New Jersey State Police.”

The weekend event, which is hosted each year at Stockton University, went from Friday through Sunday afternoon. Crotty remarked, “This year they scored first and second in the physical fitness competitions, and a third in drill and ceremony, and third-place in the burglary scenario, domestic violence and motor vehicle scenarios.”

Crotty has led Post 321 Police Explorers since the troop was re-established in 2015. It had been suspended for a few years after major police layoffs in 2011. The post now has 18 Explorers, both junior and senior high school members. The program is open to members up to age 20. Police Explorers is a special section of the Scout program, intended to give boys and girls a head start toward a police or military career.

“We have some (police) officers on staff now who have come through the Explorers. And we have a number (of former Explorers) that are serving in the military but have expressed interest in a police career,” said Crotty.